An apprentice from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) has won a regional award at a ceremony to recognise the brilliant work of apprentices.

Anton Bayliss won the apprentice of the year award at the Health Education West Midlands NHS Apprenticeship Recognition Awards 2014 which took place at Edgbaston Stadium, the home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club on Thursday 23 October.

Nominated by his manager, Phil Haines, Anton was joined by fellow UHB apprentice Rukea Begum and Learning and Development Assessor Melissa Glynn, who helped design the awards evening.

Anton, aged 22, from Selly Oak said: “This was a completely unexpected and surprising award and I am so proud to have been chosen as the winner. It took me by surprise that I was nominated, but to then be shortlisted and to win – I am humbled. 

Learning and Development Manager Karen Jameson said: “Anton was nominated because of the exceptional progress he has made and his contribution and can do attitude to the Learning and Development Team.

After leaving Bishop Challoner RC School in Kings Heath at the age of 16, Anton went on to study sociology, psychology, politics and statistics at Cadbury 6th Form College and Bournville College.

He then became self-employed in a variety of roles, ranging from repairing satellite dishes to working in pubs.

But he added: “I wanted to change what I was doing in my career and thought that becoming an apprentice at UHB was the best way of getting experience and moving further through the organisation.

“You can work in a lot of different areas with the Trust, and the support and encouragement I have received here has certainly helped lead to this award, I couldn’t have achieved this without it.”

Anton, who joined the UHB apprenticeship scheme in November 2013, spent his first few weeks in Informatics and has since worked in various other departments before recently joining the Postgraduate Centre.

A spokesman for HEWM said the first ever NHS Apprenticeship Recognition Awards are designed to “celebrate our stars of the future and recognise the value that apprentices bring to our workplaces.

“The number and quality of the nominations received for the awards has exceeded all expectations and made the judging process extremely difficult for those involved.”